Watching a Dateline episode on autistic adults...

[conuly]

Not as bad as all that, though they took the time to mention that the US has had an "explosion of autism!" Cue my screaming - an increase in diagnoses, and yeah, the same time they change the diagnostic criteria....

*watches some more*

So, this adult center... seems to be primarily lit (at least, the bathroom certainly is) with fluorescent lights. I know that's not a problem for everyone, but, careless much?

Do wish they'd cut off the deep and somber tones a bit. Can't people just *talk* for a change? (And talking more to the "stars of the show" instead of their parents and random doctors would be interesting - they both can speak, I've heard it.)

*taps toes*

Nevermind. Somber has gone right into tragic and maudlin. And 18 months? Do you think you've pushed back the age of diagnosis far enough?

And I do like how both sets of parents assume that their eventual deaths will result in their offspring regressing, dying, having to go to an institution, all that good stuff - autistic adults, even those who "struggle to speak", can live without their parents. I know people who've done it. Of course, this is mitigated by the further comments that more resources need to be set up for adult autistics, so... I don't know. I'm just in a bad mood. This computer is hot on my lap, but I don't have anyplace else to put it.

And it's over. Eh. I really *am* in a bad mood. Don't trust my judgment on this.

Comments

adult asd

[maelorin]

while focussing on severely affected individuals might make for 'good tv', or whatever, the majority of us do get by. indeed, i suspect, and i'm not alone, that the majority of adults with asd neurophysiologies simply pass for odd or wierd.

i was 33 when i was diagnosed as aspeie. that diagnosis simply says that i exhibit characteristics - including life history - consistent with aspergers syndrome. no attempt to assess the qualitative impact on my life, or whether i'm severely affected or whatever.

has anyone done any work on trying to assess the relative impacts of asds on peoples lives? assess the frequencies of severity of various 'differences'? and the (lack) availability of resources to accommodate.

unless and until we have some decent understanding of the population characteristics of asds it'll be very hard to properly assess the epidemiology. it will also be hard to really understand how to accomodate the asd population in a neurotypical world where everyone is considred to be 'normal' unless extreme proof of difference is obvious. then you get labelled a freak and shoved out the door.